Chris Rossetti’s Mid-Season Report

POSTED ON 1/16/00

Well we are at the halfway point of the 1999-2000 KSAC boys’ basketball season, and it has been a season that so far can be summed up in one word: unpredictability.

Any team, on any given night with any given record can beat another team in the KSAC this season.

Just look at the last week. On Tuesday Redbank Valley beat one of the top teams in the KSAC Keystone and C-L topped Union. Then come Friday night, Keystone destroys C-L, while Redbank Valley gets pummeled by an A-C Valley team that has lost bad to Union, North Clarion and Clarion Area yet has beaten Redbank Valley and Karns City.

Union, meanwhile, started the season with five straight wins then lost six in a row before upsetting Redbank Valley and then losing two more in a row.

Redbank Valley can’t seem to figure out what kind of team it is beating Keystone and Clarion Area, the two teams tied in second place, but losing to next-to-last Union and A-C Valley.

Even mighty Keystone has had a little bit of trouble losing two games last week, granted on without starting point guard Raoul Whitaker and the other one to North Clarion.

North Clarion, in fact, as been the only team that hasn’t seemed to lose a step this season winning its first 13 games including five without its starting point guard Kurt Wolbert who broke his wrist and missed three weeks in December.

As for individual performances, North Clarion’s Mike Carr has been steady as a rock averaging 21.5 points per game this season, which is currently best in the conference and has done nothing to lose the distinction of not only the best player in the KSAC but probably the best player in District 9. Carr can do it all playing all five positions for the Wolves at various times during the season. His best spot is the two-guard, but he can also play point guard pretty well and can also post-up if needed.

Union’s Dustin Laughlin had been in the scoring lead most of the season, but has fallen a tenth of a point back of Carr at 21.4 ppg. Laughlin has hit a conference leading 31 three-point shots, although teammate Shane Varner, 10.1 ppg, has been a pleasant surprise for Jeff Hepler’s Golden Knights hitting 30 three-point shots.

Keystone’s Chris Banner is still the best post player in the league averaging 19.8 ppg, and that average keeps getting better after each game.

Redbank Valley’s Darren Duhnke, 18.2 ppg, and A-C Valley’s Keith Lukasavich, 17.6 ppg, have both looked like world-beaters at times but have also had their fair share of off nights as well.

The second half of the season should provide more excitement, with plenty of good basketball to be enjoyed by all.

Below are my mid-season picks for what I think will happen at the end of the year.

KSAC MVP – Mike Carr, North Clarion – Carr will go down as one of the best players to ever play in the KSAC.

KSAC Rookie of the Year – Jordan Johnston, C-L – The freshman Johnston is quickly becoming a bright spot in a tough season for Lions. He is averaging 4.8 ppg right now, but that is bound to go up as he gets more and more playing time from head coach Todd Smith who likes the youngster.

KSAC Champion – North Clarion – When Keystone lost to RV Tuesday they pretty much left North Clarion in control of its own destiny. The Wolves can trip up once and still win the conference outright. But with two games left against Clarion Area and one against Keystone, the Wolves better be ready to play every night.

KSAC Coach of the Year – Bruce Beichner, A-C Valley – Some my be surprised by this pick and might wonder why I don’t give the nod to NC coach Ryan Cornecki, Keystone coach Greg Heath or Clarion Area coach Rob Leone. But if Beichner keeps the Falcons playing well this team will make the playoffs along with CA, NC and Keystone. The difference is CA, NC and Keystone where suppose to be where they are at, A-C Valley wasn’t. Beichner has done a great job in getting A-C Valley to play as a team.